McGraw talked with TIME's Jeff Chu about parenting, politics and the secret to the success of his 10-year marriage

Country music singer Tim McGraw performs in New York City, March, 2006.

He's a country-music megastar whose tour with wife Faith Hill was one of 2006's biggest moneymakers. He's also a doting husband and dad who has vowed never to spend more than two nights away from Hill and their three young girls. Now, with this week's opening of his family-friendly movie Flicka, Tim McGraw can add "lead actor" to his titles. McGraw, 39, talked with TIME's Jeff Chu about parenting, politics and the secret to the success of his 10-year marriage.

Why acting, and why Flicka?

It's a challenge. I've been around the music business for a long time now, and I've...